LAHORE, Dec 10: Pakistan’s under-15 cricket coach, Aqib Javed has expressed the optimism that his side is fully capable of winning the under-15 Asia Cup in UAE.

“ It is a talented side and I have attached great expectations to it in view of the potentialities of the players “, he declared on Tuesday.

The qualifying rounds of the tournament are in progress since Dec 7 and out of ten teams four teams will secure places in the super league which commences from Dec 15 at three centres, Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan has been placed in Group A with Sri Lanka with two qualifying teams, while India and Bangladesh and two qualifiers are in the Group B. All eight teams launch their campaign in the elite part of the tournament.

Aqib said the team is a bunch of youngsters who have promise and eagerness which they showed in the training camp for the build up of the team under the watchful eyes of batting coach, Zaheer Abbas and manager Sultan Rana.

He termed the tournament a tough competition amid best teams of the region and said taking the event lightly will be a mistake.

“When India, India Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and few up and coming qualifying teams are playing obviously the tournament would be a competitive event and in such circumstances Pakistan has to be at its best and perfection to defy rivals “, he said.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan two years ago in the final of the Junior Asia Cup at Karachi.

“I know about our past record but my concern is the future and to motivate the side to a level where it could perform as a winning combination to attain glory”, he said.

Aqib who is working with the team for past over one month described the side balanced in all departments.

“I do not see any shortcoming in the team but its real test comes when it plays in the tournament but the way players have performed in the camp I have all the praise for them and hope they would come up to the expectations”, he said.

He said Pakistan team would not be under extra pressure when it plays India and playing the neighbouring country was not a serious problem.

“India is just an opponent for us and if players feel themselves under pressure while playing against them, it can hamper their performance and they should keep their cool to remain normal”, he said.

The former Test bowler said Pakistan Cricket Board endeavoured its best to impart much needed high profile training with the help of experienced professional associated with the team.

“Boys were imparted specialised training and I am confident all the hard work and efforts made would definitely produce desired results”, he maintained.

The U-squad will reassemble here Dec 10 where it will hold a short training camp before leaving for UAE on Dec 13.

Team:

Fazal Mohammed Khan (Captain-Karachi) Adnan Raza (Vice-Captain-Lahore), Suleman Ali, Fayyaz Ahmed, Yasir Arafat, Salman Akbar Butt, Awais Ahmed, Raza Ali Dar, Masroor Amjad, Fahad Zaman, Mohammad Omar Khaliq, Jamshed Ahmed, Nasir Ahmed, Nawaz Sardar and Shan Masood.—APP